oundly
discovered, and might even be held as rapidly stirring into movement.
Miss Temple was the affianced bride of Lord Montfort, but her heart was
Captain Armine's: Captain Armine, in the estimation of his parents, was
the pledged husband of Miss Grandison, while he and his cousin had, in
fact, dissolved their engagement. Mr. Temple more than suspected his
daughter's partiality for Ferdinand. Sir Ratcliffe, very much surprised
at seeing so little of his son, and resolved that the marriage should
be no further delayed, was about to precipitate confessions, of which
he did not dream, and which were to shipwreck all the hopes of his life.
The Count Mirabel and Miss Grandison were both engaged in an active
conspiracy. Lord Montfort alone was calm, and if he had a purpose to
conceal, inscrutable. All things, however, foreboded a crisis.

Sir Ratcliffe, astonished at the marked manner in which his son absented
himself from Brook-street, resolved upon bringing him to an explanation.
At first he thought there might be some lovers' quarrel; but the
demeanour of Katherine, and the easy tone in which she ever spoke of
her cousin, soon disabused him of this fond hope. He consulted his wife.
Now, to tell the truth, Lady Armine, who was a shrewd woman, was not
without her doubts and perplexities, but she would not confess them to
her husband. Many circumstances had been observed by her which filled
her with disquietude, but she had staked all her hopes upon this cast,
and she was of a sanguine temper. She was leading an agreeable life.
Katherine appeared daily more attached to her, and Lady Armine was
quite of opinion that it is always very injudicious to interfere. She
endeavoured to persuade Sir Ratcliffe that everything was quite right,
and she assured him that the season would terminate, as all seasons
ought to terminate, by the marriage.

And perhaps Sir Ratcliffe would have followed her example, only it so
happened that as he was returning home one morning, he met his son in
Grosvenor-square.

'Why, Ferdinand, we never see you now,' said Sir Ratcliffe.

'Oh! you are all so gay,' said Ferdinand. 'How is my mother?'

'She is very well. Katherine and herself have gone to see the balloon,
with Lord Montfort and Count Mirabel. Come in,' said Sir Ratcliffe, for
he was now almost at his door.

The father and son entered. Sir Ratcliffe walked into a little library
on the ground floor, which was his morning room.

'We dine at